The U.S. automotive market is changing and people are keeping their cars and trucks longer and longer. I am no stranger to this mentality – I just sold my 1998 pickup I had owned since new. Doing so opened the opportunity for my next long-term investment, a Ford F350 with the 6.7L diesel.
Why, you ask? Long-term use…and I can pull a ranch house down the freeway doing 80 mph.
My point here is if you are like me and are interested in keeping your vehicle until it literally has to be towed to a junkyard, consider a diesel the next time you buy a vehicle. Here’s why.
Diesels last. Period.
Last March, a friend and I took a trip to Argentina for several weeks. Trip of a lifetime, for sure. But what I want to point out to those who have not had the luxury of traveling to South America where diesel is the most prevalent fuel is how they keep their vehicles even longer than we do here in the U.S.
Take a look at these three pics I snapped while on the streets of Buenos Aires.
Despite their age, these trucks are still at it working hard every day. Best guess, I figure the green one was built in the 1950s. And I thought I used every last ounce out of my previous truck. Argentinians definitely know how to get the most out of their vehicles.
They’re successful in doing so for a couple reasons.
Diesel is king in Argentina, and we’ve all heard the stories about diesels lasting so long (check out the story of AMSOIL Dealer Jerry Pruett and his 2-million-mile Kenworth). It’s no joke. Many working trucks and vehicles on the road I saw I’ll bet were twice as old as me and still going.
Diesel engines are built to last when properly maintained
Diesel owners can commonly keep their vehicles for many hundreds of thousands of miles. More likely, they end up replacing all the parts around the engine before the engine finally gives out. One reason is that diesels are typically built stronger to handle the stress of higher compression. So, if you are looking for the ultimate in longevity, buy a diesel.
(Find out more differences between gas and diesel engines.)
Next up, given how the frames of these vehicles look almost new, I’m guessing they don’t use much road salt in Argentina. Makes sense because, if you’ve ever traveled outside the U.S. and have been to some larger cities, the roads are tight, with many built from brick and crowded with cars, trucks and motorcycles. Where would they plow the snow if they could?
Meanwhile, a five-year-old vehicle here in northern Wisconsin is starting to rot out already due to all the road salt. Travel to the southern states and a 1995 truck looks just as beautiful as it did the day it came off the production line.
You might be saying, “I don’t like diesel trucks; they’re loud and stinky.” Yeah, some of the older ones might be, but today’s diesels are light-years ahead in technology. They’re far quieter, produce fewer emissions and make less noise compared to older models.
Take a lesson from our friends in other countries – if you want your investment to last as long as possible, consider diesel.
Plus you’ll get to pull a ranch house down the road doing 80 mph. What could be better?